The Shell House Raid DVD documentary

Thanks

Hi Errol,

I am registered in the Wings over NZ site.
Trying to figure out how to make a new post, a little tricky.

Much appreciated for leading me this way.

Eric

Note that several of the 487 squadron crew were (are?) New Zealanders. See http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2RAF-c12.html#n362

Try here, Dave Homewood (the site admin) recently organised the NZ Mosquito veterans to attend the Mosquito airshow here in NZ.
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Wartime

Family at Shellhus

Hi,

I spoke to Ed Balkan the producer 4 weeks ago.
Ed had sold the documentary to UK based Journeyman.
http://www.journeyman.tv/64367/documentaries/the-shell-house-raid.html

This event holds a huge part in my family history and directly why I am here. My father, grandfather, grandmother, and aunt were imprisoned in a prison close to Shellhouse.
The night before the raid my father and grandfather signed their death warrant for the following day. The raid had saved their lives.
I have written accounts of the raid from a book that my father wrote. He comments, during the shelling 2 fellow prisoners lifted him up to look out the cell window. He was able to view the Mosquitos and was impressed on their accuracy. He also wrote that they hit the interrogation room where the Gestapo and traders (interpreters) were gathered.

The family watched the documentary 2 weeks ago and I must say it was very emotional for us all.

I know my father before he passed away in 2007 wanted to contact the air crew involved in the raid. I am now going to try to contact any of these brave heroes that may still be alive or the family members to pass on my deepest appreciation. Thanks Bluenoser for posting the Shell House Raiders, this is a good start.

Eric

Much thanks for the info men ..

Thanks guys for the info and the shot of the memorial at Bodney.. have been to the old base on several occassion in the late 80’s early 90’s ! Hope to get an update on the release of the documentary. Anon ..wow to speak to someone who actually live through the raid itself ..amazing !

Will update when I learn more …. thanks !

BlueNoser352!

Much thanks for the info men ..

Thanks guys for the info and the shot of the memorial at Bodney.. have been to the old base on several occassion in the late 80’s early 90’s ! Hope to get an update on the release of the documentary. Anon ..wow to speak to someone who actually live through the raid itself ..amazing !

Will update when I learn more …. thanks !

BlueNoser352!

I haven’t seen the tower…. Often up that way to see my parents in Watton.

Alan, the tower is visible from the road, on the opposite side to the current camp and to the west of it. Look next time you are passing, you should be able to spot it.

And BN, it was still there last time I passed about 6 month’s back.

Moggy

I haven’t seen the tower…. Often up that way to see my parents in Watton.

Alan, the tower is visible from the road, on the opposite side to the current camp and to the west of it. Look next time you are passing, you should be able to spot it.

And BN, it was still there last time I passed about 6 month’s back.

Moggy

Eye witness

An elderly (Danish) lady local to me was working as an office girl several floors up in the building right next to the Gestapo HQ when it was bombed.

She says they hit the floor and crawled all the way to the basement for shelter. She remembers the Mossies flying past very low and the colours of the squadron markings and roundels so vividly apparent.

Anon.

Eye witness

An elderly (Danish) lady local to me was working as an office girl several floors up in the building right next to the Gestapo HQ when it was bombed.

She says they hit the floor and crawled all the way to the basement for shelter. She remembers the Mossies flying past very low and the colours of the squadron markings and roundels so vividly apparent.

Anon.

Shame how the first three years of war that saw the RAF 21, 82, 90( the first Fortresses to operate in the UK) and 102 Squadron’s history left off.
Two years of USAAF use, and the passer by would be thinking it was only the US that operated from there. Unless there is another memorial?

Shame how the first three years of war that saw the RAF 21, 82, 90( the first Fortresses to operate in the UK) and 102 Squadron’s history left off.
Two years of USAAF use, and the passer by would be thinking it was only the US that operated from there. Unless there is another memorial?

This is important WW II history and important to many in the UK & Denmark on what took place here. Hope all is well with you Sir….is the old control tower at Bodney still standing ? If you happen to drive by ….offer it a salute from BlueNoser352.

BlueNoser352!

I haven’t seen the tower, but this is at the camp. Often up that way to see my parents in Watton.

This is important WW II history and important to many in the UK & Denmark on what took place here. Hope all is well with you Sir….is the old control tower at Bodney still standing ? If you happen to drive by ….offer it a salute from BlueNoser352.

BlueNoser352!

I haven’t seen the tower, but this is at the camp. Often up that way to see my parents in Watton.

Much thanks Moggy

Ok…..thanks and I did reach the producer in Los Angles and will discuss with him at a later date if one can buy the documentary. Took him two years to shoot,edit & prdouce this. Now like most documentray makers one faces the challenge of finding an outlet……to sell and show it. Like on The History Channel, The Military Channel here in the US..or a British or European network to recoup ones expenses. I will report back my findings and encourage this to make it on to the dvd market for sure.
This is important WW II history and important to many in the UK & Denmark on what took place here. Hope all is well with you Sir….is the old control tower at Bodney still standing ? If you happen to drive by ….offer it a salute from BlueNoser352. Thanks for your reply Moggy…have a good weekend !

BlueNoser352!

Much thanks Moggy

Ok…..thanks and I did reach the producer in Los Angles and will discuss with him at a later date if one can buy the documentary. Took him two years to shoot,edit & prdouce this. Now like most documentray makers one faces the challenge of finding an outlet……to sell and show it. Like on The History Channel, The Military Channel here in the US..or a British or European network to recoup ones expenses. I will report back my findings and encourage this to make it on to the dvd market for sure.
This is important WW II history and important to many in the UK & Denmark on what took place here. Hope all is well with you Sir….is the old control tower at Bodney still standing ? If you happen to drive by ….offer it a salute from BlueNoser352. Thanks for your reply Moggy…have a good weekend !

BlueNoser352!

It aired on broadcast over here a few months(?) back.

I can’t recall too much of it, so it can’t have been stunning, but it was OK I think.

Certainly worth getting your mitts on

EDIT: My bad – that was the Amiens one 😮

Moggy

It aired on broadcast over here a few months(?) back.

I can’t recall too much of it, so it can’t have been stunning, but it was OK I think.

Certainly worth getting your mitts on

EDIT: My bad – that was the Amiens one 😮

Moggy

Aircraft involved in the attack (all Mosquito Mk.VI)

No 487 Squadron

RS570 ‘X’

Gp Capt R N Bateson / Sqn Ldr E B Sismore (Raid Leader)

PZ402 ‘A’

Wg Cdr F M Denton / Fg Off A J Coe (damaged, belly landed at base)

PZ462 ‘J’

Flt Lt R J Dempsey / Flt Sgt E J Paige (hit by flak, 1 engine u/s, returned safely)

PZ339 ‘T’

Sqn Ldr W P Kemp / Flt Lt R Peel

SZ985 ‘M’

Fg Off G L Peet / Fg Off L A Graham

NT123 ‘Z’

Flt Lt D V Pattison / Flt Sgt F Pygram (missing)

No 464 Squadron

PZ353

Flt Lt W K Shrimpton RAAF (Pilot) / Fg Off P R Lake RAAF

PZ463

Flt Lt C B Thompson / Sgt H D Carter

PZ309

Flt Lt A J Smith RAAF / Flt Sgt H L Green RAAF

SZ999

Fg Off H G Dawson RAAF / Fg Off P T Murray (missing)

RS609

Fg Off J H Palmer RAAF / 2nd Lt H H Becker RNorAF (missing)

SZ968

Wg Cdr Iredale RAAF / Fg Off Johnson

All aircraft took off at 0840; last back landed 1405.

No 21 Squadron

SZ977

Wg Cdr P A Kleboe / Fg Off K Hall (missing)

PZ306

Sqn Ldr A F Carlisle / Flt Lt N J Ingram

LR388

Sqn Ldr A C Henderson / Flt Lt W A Moore

HR162

Flt Lt M Hetherington / Fg Off J K Bell

No 21 Squadron records list only these four aircraft and crews above as taking part in this operation.

All aircraft took off at 0835; the three which returned did so at 1355.

Aircraft involved in the attack (all Mosquito Mk.VI)

No 487 Squadron

RS570 ‘X’

Gp Capt R N Bateson / Sqn Ldr E B Sismore (Raid Leader)

PZ402 ‘A’

Wg Cdr F M Denton / Fg Off A J Coe (damaged, belly landed at base)

PZ462 ‘J’

Flt Lt R J Dempsey / Flt Sgt E J Paige (hit by flak, 1 engine u/s, returned safely)

PZ339 ‘T’

Sqn Ldr W P Kemp / Flt Lt R Peel

SZ985 ‘M’

Fg Off G L Peet / Fg Off L A Graham

NT123 ‘Z’

Flt Lt D V Pattison / Flt Sgt F Pygram (missing)

No 464 Squadron

PZ353

Flt Lt W K Shrimpton RAAF (Pilot) / Fg Off P R Lake RAAF

PZ463

Flt Lt C B Thompson / Sgt H D Carter

PZ309

Flt Lt A J Smith RAAF / Flt Sgt H L Green RAAF

SZ999

Fg Off H G Dawson RAAF / Fg Off P T Murray (missing)

RS609

Fg Off J H Palmer RAAF / 2nd Lt H H Becker RNorAF (missing)

SZ968

Wg Cdr Iredale RAAF / Fg Off Johnson

All aircraft took off at 0840; last back landed 1405.

No 21 Squadron

SZ977

Wg Cdr P A Kleboe / Fg Off K Hall (missing)

PZ306

Sqn Ldr A F Carlisle / Flt Lt N J Ingram

LR388

Sqn Ldr A C Henderson / Flt Lt W A Moore

HR162

Flt Lt M Hetherington / Fg Off J K Bell

No 21 Squadron records list only these four aircraft and crews above as taking part in this operation.

All aircraft took off at 0835; the three which returned did so at 1355.

Story from 2002 on Raid

Leading WWII resistance figure Ole Lippmann dies
September 6 2002

One of Denmark’s leading World War II resistance figures, Ole Lippmann, has died. He was 86.

Lippman, who asked the Royal Air Force to bomb the Gestapo headquarters in an air raid that ended up being the deadliest wartime operation in Denmark, died Tuesday in Copenhagen.

After receiving intelligence that the Germans were planning to arrest the leadership of the banned Freedom Council, Lippmann, as liaison between the Danish resistance and the allies, requested that the RAF attack the Gestapo headquarters in downtown Copenhagen on March 21, 1945.

The raid, which eventually thwarted the Gestapo’s arrest plans, became the deadliest World War II operation in Denmark when British warplanes mistakenly bombed a school and killed 86 pupils and 13 adults.

Most of warplanes hit their target but one aircraft crashed behind the school. The following wave of planes thought the billows of smoke from the crash indicated the target and dropped their cargo of bombs on the school.

In an interview with the Berlingske Tidende newspaper, Lippman later said it was terrible to make the decision to have the Gestapo headquarters bombed because he knew civilian casualties were likely.

The school bombing “was extremely tragic” but ordering the raid was the right decision, he was quoted as saying.

The Freedom Council was founded to lead the resistance groups, which blew up factories that worked for Nazi Germany, and destroyed or damaged railway tracks, bridges, military facilities, and oil and petrol tanks. Denmark was occupied from April 9, 1940.

“He was second to none and an extremely modest man,” said Frank Zorn, a fellow resistance fighter.

In the last three months of the German occupation, Lippmann was promoted to the Allies’ highest ranking official in the Special Operations Executive in Denmark. It was he who welcomed the British troops led by General Harry Dewing as they arrived on May 5, 1945, a day after the Germans had surrendered.

During the first years of the occupation, Danes protested silently. Every morning, King Christian X rode on horseback through Copenhagen, returning his peoples’ salutes but looking away when he met German soldiers.

But by mid-1942, illegal press and sabotage actions against the roughly 210,000 German troops began. The turning point came in August 1943, when people started staging strikes and riots across the Scandinavian nation.

The government resigned after Germans declared martial law